Steve Jobs appears at Palo Alto Apple store for iPad launch

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs made an appearance Saturday for the iPad launch, talking with customers and even giving a hands-on demo of the device at his company's Palo Alto, Calif., store

As first reported by Cult of Mac, Twitter user Cedric Lignier spotted Jobs at the store wearing blue jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie sweater over his trademark mock turtleneck. Jobs reportedly showed a little girl how to use the iPad, and Lignier said he believed the girl might have been Jobs' daughter.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Jobs arrived at the University Avenue store shortly before noon, causing a great deal of interest among the patrons there.

"Many in the crowd pulled out cameras and iPhones to capture the most magic of Silicon Valley moments," the report said. "Jobs chatted with a handful of other shoppers, but even his 30-minute invasion did not get in the way of their serious business  the buying of and playing with new iPads."

Jobs has been seen at that location before, which is just 20 minutes from Apple's campus at 1 Infinite Loop. When the iPhone first launched in 2007, Jobs appeared and spoke with programmers Andy Hertzfeld and Bill Atkinson.

Early this year it was reported that Apple plans to build a new prototype store in Palo Alto, which could signal the closing of the existing store. First opened in October 2001, the University Avenue location was just the ninth retail outfit built by Apple and the first street-level Apple store.

Also on launch day, Jonathan Ive, Apple's senior vice president of industrial design, was spotted at Apple's San Francisco store. Cult of Mac noted that although the Stockton Street location was a "mob and media frenzy," few noticed Ive, though one iPad buyer did snap this photo with him:

Jobs is one thing, but seeing MR. Ive's out and about is definitely a rarity. I'm curious if he scurried away shortly after that public photo opp? If memory serves me right, he's more private that Jobs even. H

Jobs is one thing, but seeing MR. Ive's out and about is definitely a rarity. I'm curious if he scurried away shortly after that public photo opp? If memory serves me right, he's more private that Jobs even. H

He better soak up a little fame while he can, likely he won't be around when the cleaning of the house occurs after Steve retires.

He supposedly gets a $1 million a year from Apple, he should have enough to retire.

Not bad for a guy that used to design toilets, now you know why the white Mac's sell so well, it's that clean white ceramic look about them. (not a troll, it's the truth)

I think it's great he mingles with the public. He'll certainly get a lot less hassle long term by getting out and about as opposed to remaining anonymous.

The chairman of our football team, who's as much a legend in our town as Jobs is to you Californians, regularly turns up for Sunday league football. It's just the norm now and he gets little or no hassle.

If the occassional idiot gets a little carried away the public generally step in and usher them away. Must be a nice feeling to have such fame and be able to walk freely among the public and live as close a normal life as possible.

I just wonder if anyone would notice and/or care if Steve Ballmer walked into one of the Microsoft stores. Although it would be hard to miss him. I think even a deaf guy would tell him to quiet down a notch or two.

He better soak up a little fame while he can, likely he won't be around when the cleaning of the house occurs after Steve retires.

He supposedly gets a $1 million a year from Apple, he should have enough to retire.

Not bad for a guy that used to design toilets, now you know why the white Mac's sell so well, it's that clean white ceramic look about them. (not a troll, it's the truth)

I really disagree. Apple's industrial design is their most recognizable quality. From iMac to iPod to iPhone, Jonny Ive has his fingerprints on every product from the past dozen years (AKA Apple's resurgence).